Customer Reviews

The Far Euphrates

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I agree with most of the positive comments made about this book (and even some of the negative ones- though the fact that the central character is essentially passive did not make this book any less enjoyable). One difference between this book and many Jewish writers from the past century or so- it is written from within Jewish Diaspora tradition, rather than about the purely secular Jews of a Phillip Roth novel.

This book is not reminiscent at all of any other book that I've read. It is wonderfully original in its approach. One does not really feel anything toward the main character. Emotive response only comes when a person whom he loves or is closely related divulges something about themselves. Aryeh Alexander seems to only be a vessel because he does not talk about any thing really emotionally, but his actions and the symbolism in this book draws one to him, and makes people relate to him. His calculated, even cold actions remind one of themself and give this book a magnetic feel to it.

I initially picked up this book (at the Salvation Army used books section) because on the back cover it had the following evaluation by Rebecca Goldstein (one of my favorite American authors): "The Far Euphrates is a beautiful book. Its radiance is not of the sun but of the moon:delicate, mournful, mysterious". And after having read the book in one sitting, I vehemently agree! I very much enjoyed it, and I felt a somewhat sweet and "fragile" connection to the characters. The main character, Alexander - or Aryeh, is the only son of a Rabbi (educated as a physicist) and a worried and embittered wife. The rest of the world is mainly composed of the Cantor and his wife Berniece, as well as the colorful and tragic figure of Hannalore - the cantor's twin ("sister"). There is also Marla, a very freaky yet strong and captivating presence in Alexander's life. We follow Alexander's narrative as he balances between sanity and mental turmoil, which is described so gently, yet vividly. I really like this "Jewish" book. I had never read much Jewish litterature before; however, after my discovery of Rebecca Goldstein and now Aryeh Lev Stollman, I find myself being drawn towards these unique writings...

exquisite rhythmic prose takes one along a journey of a child's growth spiritually and in reality a delicious read

This is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel. In Mr. Stollman's hands, the remarkable and original characters living in the small Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario in the 1960's come vividly to life so that after the book's dramatic and lyrical ending, they remain and haunt the reader. I immediately re-read this richly-layered novel a second time and know I will come back to it again.

The tempermental disquiet between the mother and son in The Far Euphrates exhibits Mathew Arnold's opposition of Hellenism and Hebewism in a poetic and illuminating manner. The novel is intriguingly set in a small Canadian town, which presents an unusual and useful vantage point on a number of contemporary ethical dilemmas. Stollman's luxuriant prose functions comfortingly and ironically as a cocoon for these very serious concerns. It is a marvelous novel.

This book has a dual appeal to people interested in the role of religion (especially Judaism, of course) in leading a good life and those interested in the role of religious history and text in creating an inner life. Ethics and mysticism play equal roles. It's easy to find flaws in the plot, but there's something vibrant at the core of the book that makes it satisfying to me. You certainly can't call the book predictable, and to be fresh it has to take some risky turns.

During a time when everyone seems to be seeking religion, happiness and purpose in life, I found this novel to be an impressive potrayal of what it's like to grow up in with different adult influences. It demonstrates to the reader what happens to us when we live our lives making fear based decisions, or decisions based on love. I thought it was honest, realistic and poetically written. I enjoyed this story immensely and hope to have the lucky opportunity to read more novels by Aryeh lev Stollman.

This book is filled with wonderful characters and wonderful writing that keeps you reading even though you are not even sure what the actual plot is til the end. The story is about the coming of age of a very pensive and solitary Jewish boy. However, the story crosses the boundaries of Judaism to every reader. The main character's only friend his age dies and he is told a very dark secret about one of his closest adult friends -- something that happened during the Jewish Holocaust. This is too much for him. He locks himself in his room, covering the windows, & refusing to see the light of day for a year. His mother thinks that he is confirming her fear that her strange child has finally gone insane. However, this is the opportunity that the boy needs -- as everyone does -- to "find himself" and what he believes. Finally, his seclusion is over, his mother discovers the "secret" that so muddled her son's mind, and she is the one who, in the end, goes insane.

Some pretty turns of phrase and a shocking "secret" are not enough to save this story from the relentless, dull selfishness of its main protagonist. Young Aryeh Alexander is surrounded by characters who suffer and his main response to this is to stand there or to think about himself. This does not make for a thrilling narrative voice. His neurotic mother, for instance, fears for his health. He manages to terrify her by behaving in a way that the author suggests is introspective and wise beyond his years, but that mostly comes off as annoying:he locks himself in his room for a year, and this is supposed to parallel G-d drawing into himself before the act of creation. Fine. Alexander is also befriended by a quirky, fatally ill rich girl. His parents invite her to lunch and fly Alexander to her deathbed and later tell him that the good deed he did in befriending her will follow him the rest of his life like an angel, but it doesn't seem from the book that he said two words to her, or did anything nice for her on his own initiative. Finally, when confronted with the horrible "secret" of how his family's closest friends were treated in a concentration camp he doesn't react at all, largely because he knew the secret several chapters earlier in a hugely unsatisfying narrative bait and switch